Telephone-call recorder.



R. H. GREENLAW.

TELEPHONE cm RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR-15.1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

(I f E e WITNESS I 5' INVENTOR fillper'i fi; Greenhw. 9 BY Nun.

R. H. GBEENLAW. TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I5. 1916.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESS I v INVENTOR fillpe'rfjf Greenhu).

BY 2 6% I Attor neys I n; H. GREENLAWV IELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I5.1916.

1,264, 1 76. Patented Apr. 30. 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESS INVENTOR gf}, v fill/Wari Greenlrw. 1

f torneys I instrument RUPERT H. GREENLAW, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEPHONEOALL RECORDER.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Burner H. GREENLAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State or ltlassachusetts, have invented a certain new and usefulTelephone-Call Recorder, of w iich the following is a specification.

This invention is a. telephone call recorder and, more particularly, an attachment adapted to be mounted upon telephones of the portable type, by virtue of which attachment record oi the telephone calls had through a particular instrument may be kept.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanisn'i of simple character which may be readily attached to a portable telephone in such cooperative' relation thereto that the successive telephone calls mad through such instrument are ,made possible only by the proper operation of suitable means associated with counting mechanism whereby an accurate record is kept of the messages sent, thus enabling the contracting party to ascertain, at any time, the number of calls sent, and also allowing oi the checking up of the monthly statements of the telephone company. Knowing the number of calls sent, he, consequently, knows-how many are still due him without exceeding the number for which he has contracted. Furthermore, by totaling up the number of calls sent during a particular period or periods, the contractor is enabled to know what his average telephone business amounts to, and from this he may, in the future, contract for a larger or smaller service, thereby resulting in considerable financial saving.

The present invention has, therefore, for its main object the same object as my prior application Serial No. 19,374, filed April'5, 191.5, for telephone recorder. In addition to this main object, however, the present invention has the further object of simplifying the construction by eliminating all unnecessaryparts, and providing an attachment of minimum size but operable with maximum ease, and one which will not unduly encumber the telephone instrument or, in any way whatsoever,'interfere with its proper operation.

In its broad aspect, the invention embodies counting mechanism, with which is associated means adapted to normally close Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. so, 1918.

Application filed April 15, 1916. Serial No. 91,284. r

the telephone hook when the receiver is removed therefrom, so aS to normally preclude the replacement of the receiver upon said hook without operating the counting mechanism. Further means is, however, preferably associated with the device whereby, should the operator find the line busy at the time of making the call, the parts of the attachment may be so conditioned that that particular call will not be recorded. 7

In one of its practical terms, the invention embodies a slide rod adapted, when moved in one direction, to normally actuate counting mechanism of such character that, at each reciprocation of the rod, the counting mechanism is advanced one count. Mounted on, or cooperating with, the slide rod is a hook-closing member, which member must necessarily be moved during the operations of removing the telephone receiver from, and replacing it on, the book. The hook-closing member and slide rod are so associated that the movement of the former imparts reciprocating movement to V the latter, and means is provided for so conditioning the slide rod and its associated mechanisms that said slide rod may or may not, at the will of the operator, record the operations of the telephone instrument.

Features of theinvention, other than those described, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions shown therein are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention;

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a portable telephone, showing a recorder embodying the present invention mounted thereon.

Fig, 2 is a plan view of the recorder de vice, with the supporting column of the telephone instrument shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the casing which houses the recording mechanism and cooperating parts.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the greater portion of the device, the cover of the casing being removed, and parts shown in section, in the interest of clearness. Fig.5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line:

66 of Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the single arrow.

Fig. 7 is a like section on the same hne,

but looking in the direction of the double arrow.

Fig. 8 Fig. 7.

is a section taken on line 8-8 of Figs. 9 and. 10 show in detail the construction of a reciprocating rod which I prefer to employ, Fig. 10 being a plan view of the counter operating end of the rod, and Fig. 9 bein section taken on line 99 of Fig. 10.

Fig; 11 is a section corresponding to that shown in Fig. 6, with the operating parts in slightly different positions.

Fig. 12 is detail section on line 12-12 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a modified form of mechanism, and

Fig. 1 is an elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to the embodiment thereof shown in Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive, A designates a telephone instrument of the well known portable type,'generally termed desk telephone. These instruments are, as is well understood, provided'with a transmitter B, andja receiver C, the latter of which is mounted upon a hook c, pivoted for vertical movement relative to the standard of the instrument.

Diindicates'a casing of any suitable form or proportions, provided at one end with cooperating clamping aws (Z, one ofwhich is adjustable to allow said jaws to be brought into encircling relation relative to the upstanding post of the telephone standard, and, when insuch position, the casing is rigidly fixed upon said sdard by tightening the jaws (Z into firm, gripping engagement with the standard. It is desirable, for reasons hereinafter manifest, to provide means for properly positioning casing D relative to hook c, and this is accomplished, in the embodiment of the invention shown, by forming upon one of the clamping jaws (Z an upstanding projection r lug d which, when the casing is in correct position, will engage at its upper end with the flange or bead common to telephone instruments of this type. In positioningthe casing in place, all that the operator is called upon to do, in order to gain the proper adjustment, is to make sure that the upper'end of lug d is in engagement with the bead in question. lVlien this is the case, the proper relative position between casing D and instrument A is assured.

' Mounted for sliding movement interiorly of the casing, and extending exteriorly thereof, is a slide rod E, provided its exterior end with a yoke c, and said rodand yokeare soproportioned that, when the rod is in retracted position and easing D correctly mounted onthe instrument, the yoke will embrace receiver C, when the same is properly suspended within hook c, as clearly shown in Fig, 1.

In the operation of using the telephone, it is, of course, necessary to remove receiver C from the hook, and, in so doing, the removing and replacing of said receiver alternately move the slide rod E into its eX- tendcdand retracted positions. This is because of the fact that, when the receiver is removed from the hook, the lateral move ment necessary to such removal cause the receiver to force the forward end 0 of the yoke in a lateral direction, thus pulling out the rod or moving it to extended position. Rod E maintains such position until the re ceiver is returned to position upon the hook, during which operation, the receiver bears against the rear portion 6 of the yoke, thereby forcing the slide rod back to its initial or retracted position.

t will be noted that the rear portion c of the yoke is of relatively extensive dimensions, and thi, is due to the fact that, when rod E is in its extended position, means must be provided to preclude the insertion of the receiver in inverted position rearward of the yoke by such persons who are endeavoring to beat the recorder, for the purpose of defrauding the person whose instrument they are using. The rear portion of the yoke is of suchformation that it absolutely precludes the placement of the receiver upon hook c in any other than )FOpen positiomand this position can only be attained by forcing slide 0d E into its retracted position. The operations ofyre ceiver C thus automatically actuate the slide rod, and the parts of yoke e are s formed and positioned relative to the telephone hook c as to absolutely preclude the removal or replacement of the receiver upon the hook without properly reciprocating rod E.

Because of its positive operation, slide rod E forms, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the prime mover of the recording mechanism housed within casing D. Mounted within said casing is a counter or adding device F, which may be of any well known and approved type, being herein illustrated embodying a plurality of cooperating cylin-' (lrical-portions, one of which is adapted to be advanced by a ste1.aby-step movement to count consecutively. Numbers ranging from 1 to 10 are delineated upon the several cylindrical portions, and the total count isregistered at a sight opening 7, with which is juxtaposed a sight opening 7 formed in the top of easing D. Y

The cylindrical portions-0f counter F are actuated, as is usually the case in this form of counter, from a shaft or spindle f and, according to this invention, spindle f is illtermittently actuated by the reciprocations of slide rod E acting upon said spindle through a ratchet wheel or gear 9 fixed on the spindle. A detail of the connection between slide rod E and ratchet g is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings as embodyinga pawl g pivoted within a recess in slide rod E- on a pivot pin g". The upward, pivotal movement of pawl g is limited by its engagement with the wall of the recess-(see F 9), and said pawl is normally maintained in its elevated position by means of a spring interposed between a portion of the slide rod and the under side of the pawl.

Ratchet wheel 9 is mounted upon spindle f of the counter so that the lower portion of said wheel normally lies in the path of pawl g as the slide rod is'reciprocated, and the parts are so organized that the pawl engages with and operates ratchet wheel g only when the rod is moved from extended to retracted positionby the operation of replacing receiver G upon hook c. The r egrce to which pawl g rotates ratchet wheel g is so fixed that, at each reciprocation of the rod, the ratchet wheel will be rotated the number of angular degrees required to advance counter l one count, the'recording of the count being made while slide rod E isbeing retracted.

In order to steady the counting mechanism so that it will not run over a single count, due to the inertia of rotation, brake mechanism is provided, which is shown as consisting of a star-wheel 17L fixedon spindle f of the counter, and with Which cooperate-s a lever 71' pivoted at 72/ The forward end of lever it is provided with a nose 7L3 adapted to engage with the serrations of the periphery of star-wheel h, and nose h is normally maintained in engagement with said serrations by a tension spring h V The mechanism described serves as a brake, so that the ounting mechanism is operated only when it is positively driven and ceases to operate when pawl g of the slide rod ceases to drive ratchet 9. "Moreover, the brake mechanism described precludes the'inadvertent shifting of the counting mechanism bv pawl g on'the back action of the pawl, 0., when'slide rod E is being extended, and, lastly, because of the wedge-shaped nose 7rcooperating with the -wedge-shaped serrations on star-wheel it, serves-to centralize the numbers of the counting mechanism.

To review the operations"described in detail, it will be manifest that the removing of the receiver from the hook extends rod E and allows of such removal ofithe receiver, and of subsequent telephone conversation. lVhen the receiver" is returned to position upon the hook, such operation retracts the slide rod, with the result that pawl g engages with, and actuates, ratchet wheel thereby advancing the counter one count, which count may be readily observed by a glance at sight opening 7" in the casing.

The device as thus far described-is complete'so far as itgoes and might be commerciallyemployed, without the'necessity of additional mechanism. However, because of the fact that such mechanism records every operationof the telephone, both as to incoming and out-going calls,'as well as all other operations of the instrument, it is desirable to associate with this mechanism such additional parts as will allow of the recording, by the operations described, of the out going telephone calls only.

It. is well known that, a fair percentage of the times when a subscriber takes off the telephone receiver to make a call, the'operator of the telephone company advises him that the line is busy, and it is, therefore, incumbent upon the subscriber to hang up the receiver and try laterr If no means were provided for eliminating these busy wire calls, they would be counted on the recorder as out-going calls. Thus, no accuraterecord'could be kept as to the number of bona fide calls which were really sent. Accordingly, means is provided whereby the mechanism may be controlled so as not to register incoming calls or out-going operations incident to busy wire connections.

This means, in'its preferred embodiment, consists of a rocker plate I mounted for pivotal movementwithin the casingon a pin 71. Asshown particularly in Figs." 5 and-7, the general cross-sectional shape of rocker plate I is'that of a bell-crank, provided with an upper arm i and a depending portion 2' on the latter of which portions is afiiXe'd a member having a cam track 7 Rocker plate 'Iis normally held in such position that its lower end rests against the back of casing D, by means of a leaf spring 7' whichiissecured to the back of the casing and has its free end in engagement with the rear of the upwardly extending arm 1' of plate I.

" Mounte'd in-theupper portion ofthe casing, and journaled for sliding movement in a bracket j, is aplug Z, tothe forward end of which is fixed a push-button L which eXtend-s throughjthe front wall of the easing. Adjacent this plug, and on the; exterior of saidfront wall, are delineated the Words No call, or other analogous expression; The inner end of plugZ is provided with a head Z which is normally in juxtaposition with the'upst'anding arm of rocker plate I. g is The parts described are so associated and proportioned that, if push-button L "is pressed while slide rodE is in extended'position, the head Z, cooperating I with'said push-button, is forced into engagement with arm 6 of the rocker plate, witlrthe result that said arm of the plate is forced back against the tension of spring], thereby swinging the'lower portion i of said plate forwardly. to-bringthe cam track 1' into the path of. thecounter-operating pawl g 0f the sliderod. Camtrackc' is-so positioned and-,formedthat, when in this. forward position described, itwill engage with pawl g as; the slidelrod is; retracted, upon which engagement. the pawl will be depressed against the tension of its spring 9 Accordingly,,thesliding of rod E from its extended to its retracted position will not bring thepawl into engagement with ratchet wheel 9, but said cam trackwill force the pawl downwardly to such extent that it will pass by the ratchet Wheel without actuating the same.

By the incorporation of the no call button'and its, associated parts into the structure hereinbefore described, the telephone subscriber is enabledto eliminate the busy and in-coming, calls from; the operations of the recording;mechanism, so that the only calls-which will be recorded arethe bona fide outgoing calls for which he will be charged by thetelephone company.

The combination of the recording mechanism and the mechanism for limiting the recording operation as desired provides a complete,-operative machine, practical in every way, and adapted to meet all requirements in a more eflicient manner than could possi bly bethe-case with. any prior recording mechanism. Thereis, however, one slight drawback, due entirely-to the human frailty of forgettingfintherush of business, to discriminate between, busyi, incoming and out-going; calls, in which case a device embodying the discriminating mechanism wouldbe no better-than a device entirely lacking therein. Accordingly, means is preferablv used in conjunction. .with'the foregoingv devices, which willabsolutely preclude the subscriber from forgetting to discriminate between the calls.

The means referred to may be termed, in the broadest sense, locking mechanism; mechanism which,,after the receiver has been removed from the hook for the carrying on of the telephone conversation, will preclude the. replacement of the. receiver upon the hook until such time as the subscriber has operated certain devices which will allow of the replacement ofwthe receiver on the. hook. The mere fact that the receiver cannot be replaced will immediately call the attention of: the subscriber to the fact that something else must be done, and thus will cause him to remember that he must discriminate between the calls, The locking means-in question operates directlyupon the slide rod and its;function-is to lock the rod in its extended or partially: extended positions.

Mounted upon pin, 2", which vcarries rocker plate I, is a second rocker platewM, hereintermed, the lockingplate. in order that it. may be clearly differentiated from rocker plate I, which will be hereinafter termed the no-call plate. The upper portion ofplate M is extended, at m, into close proximity with the upstanding arm 2' of no-call plate I, while the lower end of plate M extends downwardly below the upper edge of slide rod E and is normally held in engagement with the front edge of said rod bymeans of an expansion spring m, see Figs. 4, 6 and 11 As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the front face of slide rod E is cut away to make the rod thinner near its free end, as at 6 and, because of the tension of spring m, the lower end or nose of locking plate M will, as slide rod E is extended during the operation of removing the receiver, travel along the front edge of rod E as long as said edge is presented thereto. However, as the rod continues to move outwardly, the nose of the locking plate will fall into recess c and will follow along said recess until. the end of the rod is reached, whereupon spring m will force the nose of the plate across the end of the rod and will hold plate M in this position. Until such time as the plate is manually moved from this position back to its initial position, said plate, extending across the end of the rod as it does, will preclude the retracting of the rod and will thus serve as a lock therefor.

Associated with plate M, and serving as means for returning it to the initial position described, are a reciprocating plug and puslrbutton similar to the corresponding mechanism used in conjunction with the nocall; plate I, the plug for the locking plate being designated a, mounted in bracket j, having a head a, and provided at its forward. end with a push-button N. When push-button N is pressed, head a is forced intoengagement with the upper portion of locking plate M and causes said plate to swing into the initial unlocked position described;

It will be noted, particularly from Figs. 4; and; 5, that the projecting portion m of plate M extends into such position as to be in the path of the head Z associated with the. no call button L, so that said plate is controllable from either button.

From this construction, it appears that, when a subscriber operates either button to discriminate between calls, after such discrimination, the telephone receiver may be hung up in the usual manner. In the mechanism described, it will be necessary for the operator to hold in either of the push-buttons while the receiver is being hung up, 2'. 6., to hold the plate in unlocking position while rod E is being retracted, so as not to interfere with the operations of said rod. The manner of maintaining locking plate M in unlocked position is clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 11'.

A leaf springO is secured to the base of after operating it, plug the casing, and, in its normal position, the spring is elevated, as shown in Fig. 11. The free end of the spring is, however, in the path of a cam track 0 formed in the slide rod, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, so that, in the normal operation of theparts, the retracting of slide rod E causes spring 0 to be depressed into the position shown in Fig. 6. When the rod is withdrawn, however, spring 0 springs up again into its normal position.

Formed upon leaf spring 0 are one or more upstanding prongs or fingers 0, and, when push-button N is pressed to swing locking plate M into its-unlocked position, fingers 0 engage with the nose of said plate so that, when the finger of the operator is removed from the push-button, the plate retains such position, despite the tension of spring m. The parts at this time are in the position shown in Fig. 11, and they remain in this position until rod E is retracted, thereby forcing down leaf spring 0 and allowing the nose of the locking plate to come into contact with the face of slide rod E, which is the initial position described. When the rod, is next extended, spring at forces the locking plate into its locked position, to be subsequently, unlocked, in the manner described, through the operation of either of the push-buttons. Such operation of the spring also forces out the push-button last pressed, thereby positioning it for subsequent operation.

To obviate the necessity of the operator keeping his finger on the no call button Z is provided with a plurality of notches p, with which 00- operate two leaf springs 9 mounted on bracket j. When the button has been pressed in, the ends of the springs enter the notches 7) and the tension of the springs is such that they are able to overcome the tension of spring j and maintain the no-call plate in its operative position in the path of the counter-operating pawl.

In order that the two push-buttons may operate to the best advantage, and that the operation of the unlocking button N will release the no call button mechanism from the springs 32, the plugs of both buttons are tied together by a link 9 mounted for pivotal movement at 9, intermediate its ends, on a post g fixed to the casing. Thus, when one button is pressed in, the other automatically comes out, and vice versa.

To preclude the disengagement of the slide rod during the operation of removing the receiver from the hook, the rod is provided with a stop 9*, in the path of which is a screw or other suitable stop 9 shown in Figs. a and 5 and in detail in Fig. 12. Thus, the inadvertent pulling out of'the rod is precluded.

Incorporated into the preferred embodiment of the invention shown is a device for precluding the fraudulent operation of the telephone betweensuch hours or at such times as may be desired. This mechanism is shown more particularly in Fig. 8 as embodying a disk R mounted for rotation on the interior of the front wallof the casing. The periphery of disk Itis provided with two cepressions r, with which depressions is adapted to cooperate a spring detent 7. When the disk is in the position shown in full lines, all the mechanism of the recording attachmentmay be operated normally, but, when the disk is shifted to the dotted line position, it passes across the back face of push-button L, with the result that said button is locked in its outer position while the other push-button N. is locked in its inner or unlocking position. With the parts in these positions, neither of the buttons can be operated, and locking plate M is maintained in its unlocked position so that there is no restriction to slide rod E. Thus, if anyone should use the tele phone at such times, every call must be recorded. The operations of disk R are preferably controlled by a key which maybe inserted through a key-hole 1, and which keymay be held inpossession by one in trust so that employees and the like cannot use the telephone without recording their calls.

In Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings is shown a slightly modified form of mechanism. In this embodiment, casing Dand its inclosed mechanism are the same as that previously described, and the device 'is mounted upon astelephone instrument in the same way, i. 6., by means of cooperating clamping jaws (Z. The modified form cliffers from that shown in Figs. 1 to 12, in elusive, only in the fact that slightly different mechanism is providedfor engaging with the telephone receiver. yoke S, similar in construction to the yoke e. of the preferred form, is employed, but, instead of being secured rigidly to slide rod E, to actuate said rod by a lateral movement of the hook, yoke S is pivoted, as at s, to an arm T rigid with one of the clamping aws and easing D. Yoke S thus pivoted is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 8, having near its outer end an elongated slot into which extends a pin 71 mounted on a lever V. Lever V is pivoted intermediate its ends by means of a pivot pin 1') fixed in two rearwardly projecting lugs t, formed integral with the rigid arm T. Lever V is positionedintermediate lugs t and, as stated, is mounted for pivotal movement. To the opposite end of lever V from the end thereof which carries pin 'v, is pivotally secured, by means of a pin w, one end of a pitman a, the opposite end of which is pivoted, as at a, to a slide rod U which corresponds to slide rod E of the preferred construction. Slide rod U operates the same mechanism within the casing, in the same manner, as does rod E.

From the foregoing enumeration of the parts, it will be manifest that, when the receiver is removed from the hook, oke S will be moved from the normal position shown through an angle of substantially 45 degrees, more or less, in a clockwise direction, and this movement of the yoke will transmit a like movement to its integral arm 8. The movement of arm 8 will, through its action on pin 4.), actuate lever V and exert a pull on link u, with the result that slide rod U will be extended. When the receiver is replaced upon the hook, the movement of the parts described will be reversed, so that slide rod U will be retracted.

The modified construction described operates, therefore, in substantially the same way as the construction of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and the mechanism within the casing will be actuated in a like manner," said mechanism being controlled, as hereinbefore described, by the operations of push-buttons Land-N.

It will thus be manifest "that, in practically'employing the recorder of this invention, the operator or subscriber cannot fail to remember to properly record or discriminatebetween the various typesof calls, and may actuate the push-buttons, in carrying out the discriminating operation, either during the telephoning operation or whenhanging the receiver uponthe hook, attheclose of such operation. Moreover, the subscriber may glance at sight opening 7 in the casing at any time, to apprise'himself of the number of calls already sent.

In order that the counting mechanism may be'regulated at timesto conveniently record any desired period of time, a'key hole f is preferably provided in the back of the casing, in alinement with shaft f and through this key-hole may beinserted a key for the purpose of turning back the counter to Zero position. This may be done at the end of each month, if a monthly record is to be kept,'or at the end of year, if a yearly record is desired. In this manner, the subscriber may so adjust the counter that it will record from any desired date.

Another way in which the mechanism of this invention precludes the operation of the device'to the exclusion of discriminating between calls, is manifest from th'e fact that locking plate M may lock slide rod E in two positions. In the foregoing description, the operation of'the locking plate, in looking rod E by extending across the end thereof, has been described, but, because of the particular formation of the rod with the cut-out portion 6 it becomes apparent that there is a still further locking operation.

If the rod is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 5, the lower end or nose of locking plate M is in engagement with the forward face of the rod. If the rod is now extended sufficiently to bring the nose of said plate into the recessed portion 6 the rod will be locked against retractiomeven though the plate has not reached the end of the rod, as heretofore described. This is by virtue of the fact that, if a retracting force is placed upon rod E, the substantially vertical, forward edge of cam track 0 will be pressed into engagement with the edge of locking plate M, and the plate will thus securely lock the rod against further move ment in a retracting direction.

The parts are so proportioned that locking plate M will engage with the recessed portion of slide rod E as soon as the rod has been extended sufficiently 'to allow of the removalof the receiver'fromthe hook, and, while such extended position is not the fully extended position, the locking of the rod, when thus partially withdrawn, is of advantage, since it absolutely precludes the receiver from'bei'ng removed from the hook without looking the sliderod. In the normal operation of the instrument, the secondmentionedlocking arrangement will not-necessarily be called into play,as lockingplate M will lock rod E at the end of the rod. Thus, even though thetelephone user does not, in his haste, entirely extend rod E, he 100 cannot replace the receiver upon the hook without having called to his attention the fact'that he must discriminate between calls, thisbeing" done by the fact that the second.- mentioned locking means is precluding the 105 replacement of the receiver until he operates either of the push-buttons.

'Thepresent invention, therefore, is a positive safeguard to the subscriber, enables him to keep track, at alltimes, of the extent 11 of his telephoneservice, and, at the same time, does not unduly encumber the telephone instrument. Moreover, the push-buttons which the caller operates are within easy access and may be operated by the 1 thumb or other finger,while the caller holds the telephone instrument in his hand, no awkward position ofthe hands being neces saryduring such operation. Furthermore, the attachment does not in any way pre- 120 clude the normal operations of the telephone hook, chief among which is the up and down movementwhich is'generally employed by the caller'in signalingthe central operator.

In many of the devices heretofore suggested, 125 wherein the up and down movement of the telephone hook was utilized to record the calls, the subscriber could not operate "the hook as described, since, every timeth'e hook was'moved, a call was recorded. Thus, in 130 signaling the central office, as is usual, half a dozen superfluous calls might be inadvertently recorded.

When the mechanism hereinbefore described is attached to a telephone instrument, it embodies many features of advantage not hereinbefore mentioned, and of which only brief mention need be made. E. 9., it will be manifest that, because of the slight clearance between the heads n Z and the cooperating plates M and I, there is a slight degree of lost motion between these parts. This is of practical advantage since, as any particular push-button is returned to its exterior position, after operation, said button will not protrude beyond the casing to the same extent as the other button, with the result that anyone, glancing at the attachment, will see which button has been last operated. Thus, if, after a' subscriber has completed the calling operation, he is somewhat in doubt as to whether he has pressed the proper button, he may readily free his mind of such doubt by merely glancing at the push-buttons.

It will be noted, particularly from Fig. 1 of the drawings, that yoke e is'bent upwardly at its outer end so that portion 6 thereof lies in a slightly higher plane than the remainder of the yoke. While this construction is not absolutely necessary, it is de sirable, since it positions portion 6 in substantial alinement with the main supporting portion of the hook. By virtue of this construction, therefore, the removal of the receiver from the hook is rendered impossible without extending rod E to such extent as to bring the same into a locked position.

lVhile the foregoing description has dealt with the present invention as particularly adapted for telephones of the portable or desk type, it will be manifest that, by slight changes in the manner of mounting the easing, the invention may be adapted to other well known types of instrument, such as the wall telephone. Thus, while the construction as described is particularly applicable in the environment set forth, it is to be understood that the invention is not lim ited to this type of instrument, but is adapted to record calls of instruments of any type.

The accompanying drawings show the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be manifest, from the foregoing specification, that this invention is not limited to the illustrative showing made, and it is to be understood that the invention is as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Havin thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, means adapted to close the end of the telephone hook when the receiver is removed therefrom and adapted to be longitudinally moved to a retracted position upon the positioning of the receiver upon the hook, said means being operatively connected Withthe recording mechanism to actuate the same when the receiver is positioned upon the hook.

2. A telephone recorder embodying a rod slidable upon the removal or replacement of the receiver upon the hook of the telephone instrument, and means operable by the slidable rod for registering the opera-V tions of the telephone.

3. A telephone recorder embodying means for closing the open end of the hook of the telephone instrument when the receiver removed therefrom, in combination with means actuated by said hook-closing means for registering the operations of the telephone.

4:. A telephone recorder embodying indicating mechanism operable by lateral movement of the receiver, independently of any vertical movement thereof, during its displacement from and replacement on the telephonehook, saidmechanism being also independent, in: its operation, of the pivotal movement of the hook.

5. In a telephone, recording mechanism, in combination with means, operable by lateral movement of the receiver, independently of any vertical movement thereof, during its displacement from and replacement on the telephone hook, for actuating the recording means. V

6. A telephone recorder embodying indi cating mechanism operable by lateral move ment of the telephone receiver, independently of any vertical movement thereof, during its displacement from and replacement on the telephone hook, and means, associated with the indicating means and independent of the receiver, for rendering said indicating means irresponsive to the operations of the receiver. I

7 A telephone recorder embodying a rod slidable upon the removal or replacement of the receiver upon the hookof the telephone instrument with which the recorder is associated, means normally operable by the slidable rod forregistering theoperations of the telephone, and means for allowing saidrod to operate idly, whereby a call need not be recorded.

"8. A. telephone recorder embodying counter mechanism, and a movable member for operating the counter mechanism, said mov able member being actuated by lateralmovement of the receiver, independently of any vertical movement thereof, during its displacement from and replacement on the telephone hook. v I V p A telephone recorder embodying counter mechanism, a movable member for operating the counter mechanism, said movable member being actuated by lateral movement of the receiver,independently of any vertical movement thereof, during its displacement from andrreplacement on the telephone hook, to :advance the counter mechanism step by step for recording the operations of the telephone, and means for allowing of retrograde operation of the counter mechanism.

10. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a movable yoke positioned to embrace the telephone receiver when said receiver is on the hook of the telephone instrument, so that the removal and replacement of the receiver on the hook transmits movement to the yoke, and operative connections between the yoke and recording mechanism whereby movement of the yoke actuates the recording mechanism.

11. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a movable yoke posi tioned to embrace the telephone receiver when said receiver is on the hook of the telephone instrument, so that the removal and replacement of the'receiver on the hook transmits movement to the yoke, operative connections between the yoke and recording mechanism whereby movement of the yoke normally actuates-the recording mechanism,

and means for rendering the recording mechanism irresponsive to the movements of the yoke.

12. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a movable yoke positioned to embrace the telephone receiver when said receiver is on the hook of the telephone instrument, so that the removal and replacement of the receiver on the hook transmits movement to the yoke, pawl and ratchet connections between the yoke and recording mechanism whereby movement of the yoke actuates the recording mechanism, and means for precluding the engagement between the pawl and ratchet to render the recording mechanism irresponsive to the movements of the yoke.

13. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a movable yoke positioned to embrace the telephone receiver when said-receiver is on the hook of the telephoneinstrument, so that the removal and replacement of the receiver on the hook transmits 'movement tothe yoke, operative connections between the yoke and recording mechanism whereby movement of the yoke normally actuates the recording mechanism, and manually operable means for rendering "the recording mechanism irresponsive to the movements of the yoke.

144A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a -movable yoke positioned to embrace the telephone receiver when said receiver is on the hook of the telephone instrument, so that the removal and replacement of the receiver on the hook transmits movement to the yoke, operating connections between the yoke and recording mechanism whereby movement of the yoke actuates the recording mechanism, and means for precluding movement of the yoke.

15. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a movable yoke positioned to embrace the telephone receiver when said receiver is on the hook of the telephone instrument, so that the removal and replacement of the receiver on the hook transmits movement to the yoke, operative connections between the yoke and recording mechanism whereby movement of the yoke actuates the recording mechanism, means for precluding movement of the yoke to obviate incorrect, thoughtless operations of the recording mechanism, and means for subsequently releasing the yoke to allow of the recording operation.

16. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a member slidable relative to the recording mechanism for actuating the same, and means cooperating with the slidable member and operable by the telephone receiver in the removal and re placement of the same on the hook of a telephone instrument, whereby the operations of the telephone are recorded by the recording mechanism.

17. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a member slidable relative to the recording mechanism for actuating the same, means cooperating with the slidable member and operable by the telephone receiver in the removal and replacement of the same on the hook of'a telephone instrument, whereby the operations of the telephone are recorded by the recording mechanism, and means for rendering the recording mechanism irresponsive to the operations of the receiver.

18. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a member slidable relative to the recording mechanism for actuating the same means cooperating with the slidable mem er and operable by the telephone receiver in the removal and replacement of the same on the hook of a telephone instrument, whereby the operations of the telephone are recorded by the recording mechanism, means for locking the slidable member against movement, and push-buttoi-i mechanism for releasing said member.

19. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a member slidable rela tive to the recording mechanism for actuating the same, means cooperating with the slidable member and operable by the telephone receiver in the removal and replacement of the same on the hook of a telephone instrument, whereby the operations of the telephone are recorded by the recording mechanism, and push-button mechanism for rendering the recording mechanism irresponsive to the operations of the receiver.

20. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a member slidable relative to the recording mechanism for actuating the same, means cooperating with the slida-ble member and operable by the telephone receiver in the removal and replace ment of the same on the hook of a telephone instrument, whereby the operations of the telephone are recorded by the recording mechanism, push-button mechanism for rendering the recording mechanism irresponsive to the operations of the receiver, and means for locking the push-button mechanism against operation.

21. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a slide rod for actuating the same, and a telephone hook barrier for imparting sliding movement to the rod when the receiver of the'telephone is re moved from or replaced on the hook, in combination with a detent for locking the rod against movement when the receiver is removed from the hook, and push-button mechanism for releasing said detent, whereby the receiver may be returned to position upon the hook and thereby slide the rod and actuate the recording mechanism.

22. A telephone recorder embodying counter mechanism, a movable member for operating the counter mechanism, said mov- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the able member oeing actuated by lateral movement of the receiver, independently of any vertical movement thereof, during its displacement from and replacement on the telephone hook, to advance the counter mechanism step by step for recording the operations of the telephone, and means, associated with the counter, for rendering the counter mechanism irresponsive to the operations of the movable member, said means operating independently of the receiver or the telephone hook.

23. A telephone recorder embodying recording mechanism, a slide rod for actuating the same, and a telephone hook barrier for imparting sliding movement to the rod When the receiver of the telephone is re moved from or replaced on the hook, in combination with a detent for locking the rod against movement when the receiver is removed from' the hook, push-button mechanism for releasing said detent so that the receiver may be returned to the hook to slide the rod and actuate the recording mechanism, means for freeing the recording mechanism from the control of the slide rod, and means for maintaining the detent in its unlocking position, wherein every operation of the telephone is recorded.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RUPERT H. GREENLAW.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

